Passion projects are also called custom learning plans. After meeting with a
child, a plan like the one below developed at HeartLight schools is outlined
and then further developed with the child.

Dear Jasmine,

We had a fun time showing you around HeartLight School and getting to know you
a bit. We've been thinking about the interests you have and possible projects
that you could do. Please know that you get to create the projects you do with
input from staff and your parents. With that in mind, here are a few ideas of
what is possible:

Create and Perform Your Own Fairy Tale!

Read some wonderful books such as "The Fairy Ring" and "Little
People."

Put on fairy costumes and play out imagination creation stories. (Example:
forest fairies in search of a lost unicorn who will restore the rainbow over
their village.)

Create a story for a play
performance and write it utilizing skills like introduction, climax and
conclusion. (This is a great way to understand writing skills through the
process.) Create fairy dolls to be used as puppets in the performance.

Create a stage for the story to be told using props that the school already has
available and creating original images drawn and painted on large pieces of
cardboard for the back drop.

Rehearse play and practice with puppets. Have fun playing with others and
communicating while completing the project.

Present at a family gathering or Parent Open House
An Exploration of Horses, One of Your Favorite Subjects!

Drawing - Exploring Light
Values (sun, shade, and shadow) - Using a horse sculpture and a spotlight, look
at how varying the angle and brightness of the light affects lighting values.
Learn tools of the trade to capture the different values using a pencil or
charcoal. Invite a local wildlife artist to visit school, share his work and
how he approaches drawing wildlife.

Theater - Create a play about a horse or horses. Enroll other schoolmates
to be in the performance. Create the backdrops, rehearse play, and learn how to
direct and/or take direction. Perform play.

Dance - Invite a local choreographer to visit. Learn how to create a dance
about wild horses. Create a theme, select music that conveys the moods to be
animated, practice the dance. Perform the dance. A follow-up could be to attend
a play or dance production to observe the use of music and lighting in
portraying the mood or story line.

Life Skills - Write letters to local stables/liveries to find out what you
would need to learn in order to work there when you are older. Inquire about
visiting to learn more.

History - Explore the
history of horses. Where did they originally come from? How did they end up in
the Americas? How did we get to have herds of wild horses? What has been the
use of horses? What is the history of horse racing? Why is the Kentucky Derby
so important?

Science - Create a poster of the different types of horses and the
qualities of each. Inquire into the herd and community structure of wild
horses, the open space requirements. What is being done to help preserve the
wild herds? What is equine therapy and how are horses used to help people feel
better?

Study what makes a race horse.
How is speed important? What muscles are used? Why is the linage of a horse
important? Study the horse bones.

Math - What does it take to raise a horse? How much food does s/he need?
How much are all the medicines, shoes, stable costs? How much does it cost for
a horse riding trainer or attending a riding camp? How does horse racing work?
What are speed records? What are the costs in owning a race horse against the
profitability?

Field Trip - Visit a local stable/livery/horse farm to learn more about
whatever avenue you have chosen.

Photography - Photograph horses in natural light; learn about background
issues, framing, depth of field, composition. Take photos to use as reference
for future art drawings and sculpture.

Clay - What are the different ways to work with clay? Where did the
different techniques come from?

Design
and create a piece of jewelry, like a pin. We could fire this then place the
fired pin in vulcanizing rubber to make a mould. After the mould is made, learn
how to cut vents and metal channels and learn how to cast pewter pins. Just
think, you could make pins for your aunts for the holidays or family
celebrations.

Jasmine, these are just a few
ideas we came up with after we talked this morning. Again, you are in charge of
creating each passion project with our teachers and other students. Our job is
to support you and help you follow and develop your interests. We thank you for
your consideration of our learning community for your educational needs. As you can see the possibilities for
activities and learning are virtually infinite. The plan above would be fleshed
out in discussion with the learner and a timeline for completion created